SKU: 34861077653

Epic Moon

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Epic MoonBy William P. Sheehan and Thomas A. Dobbins. Product Information: Hardbound, 6 by 9 inches, 364 pages, 186 Illustrations. About Epic Moon, A History of Lunar Exploration in the Age of the Telescope The Moon has always been one of the most obvious and in some ways the most enticing astronomical objects even from early times, it was Queen of the Night, and the naked eye sees more detail than even the largest telescopes reveal on Mars. As early as 1609

By William P. Sheehan and Thomas A. Dobbins.

Product Information: Hardbound, 6 by 9 inches, 364 pages, 186 Illustrations.

About Epic Moon, A History of Lunar Exploration in the Age of the Telescope
The Moon has always been one of the most obvious and in some ways the most enticing astronomical objects – even from early times, it was Queen of the Night, and the naked eye sees more detail than even the largest telescopes reveal on Mars.

As early as 1609 Galileo’s first telescope showed the Moon to be another world. The Moon has thus been the object of intense study not only since the 1960s but for at least the previous three and a half centuries. The eye arrived before the boot. By the same token, the first “race to the Moon” was not undertaken by American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts but by German and British selenographers in the nineteenth century, who mapped lunar detail so painstakingly that by 1878 – the year Julius Schmidt of the Athens Observatory
published his great Moon map and also the year that Congress organized the United States Geological Survey
and assigned to it the task of making large-scale maps of the United States and its territories – it could be said
without exaggeration that the earthward hemisphere of the Moon had been depicted in greater detail and with more precision than many parts of the American West were depicted in existing maps of the time.

In part, the reason for the long preoccupation with lunar surface details lay in the fact that the mapping of the Moon provided a form of therapy for astronomically inclined obsessive personalities, whose monomaniacal tendencies were drawn to the seemingly inexhaustible project of recording the multitudinous features visible in even a six-inch telescope. In part, too, it lay in the partiality of selenographers for the project – first systematically pursued by Johann Schroeter, the Lilienthal magistrate, at the end of the eighteenth century – of discovering evidence of minor changes in the lunar surface. What became a Promethean quest for changes – veils, clouds, landslips, eruptions – was initially tied in with the theory that the lunar surface features had been formed by volcanic eruptions; however, it curiously survived the demise of the volcanic theory and still shows intermittent gasps of life in the largely amateur-driven search for transient lunar phenomena, or TLP.

The long era of pre-Apollo lunar studies is a fascinating subject that has never been told in detail. “No other book, recent or not-so recent, is devoted to the history of lunar studies with telescopes” (Clark R. Chapman). Though there was a lapse of interest in the Moon in the immediate post-Apollo era, there has been a recent “return to the Moon” with the successful Clementine and Lunar Prospector missions. There is also growing evidence of a return of amateur observers to the Moon as an object worthy of their attentions. This is understandable inasmuch as the Moon remains the most accessible planetary realm; it is, moreover, the only alien world open to geological prospecting from the eyepiece of the backyard telescope.

In that sense, this book is – like the Moon itself – both timely and timeless. The story of mankind’s endless fascination with the world of the Moon and the gallery of interesting characters who pursued the details of the lunar surface with often strange intensity is a modern-day epic. Many of the stories recounted for the first time here will still be recounted generations hence, when the Apollo explorations may seem a mere interlude in what has actually been a more sustained and more significant era of endeavour. It is possible that the names of Schroeter, Beer and Madler, Webb and Schmidt may prove to be as memorable as those of Armstrong, Aldrin, Cernan and Schmitt.

About The Authors:

A psychiatrist with a lifelong interest in astronomy, William P. Sheehan is a contributing editor of Sky & Telescope magazine, a member of the History of Astronomy Division of the American Astronomical
Association, and a consultant to Committee 41 (History) of the International Astronomical Union. His previous books include Planets and Perception, the definitive history of the Martian canal controversy; The Immortal Fire Within, a critically acclaimed biography of the astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard; and In Search of Planet Vulcan (with Richard Baum). Sheehan is a 2001 fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, a prestigious award given to artists, scholars and scientists “on the basis of distinguished achievement in the past and exceptional promise for future accomplishment.”

Thomas A. Dobbins is a keen observer of the Moon and planets and a contributing editor of Sky & Telescope magazine. He is the co-author of Introduction toObserving and Photographing the Solar System (with Donald C. Parker and the late Charles F. Capen) and Video Astronomy (with Steve Massey and Eric Douglas). Dobbins, the Director of Research for a chemical manufacturing firm, holds patents in diverse fields ranging from chemical processing and rocket propulsion to acoustic amplifier design.

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4.1 ★★★★★
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Product Reviews
A
A Cat, The Gunnies & Frogs OH MY!
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
The Ultimate Puzzle for Soccer Fans – Beautiful, Challenging & Totally Frame-Worthy ⚽🧩
Color: Wa 26 Ball-200, Size: 200Pcs
As someone who absolutely loves puzzles and is a huge World Cup fan, this one felt like it was made just for me. It combines two of my favorite things—a fun, satisfying puzzle experience and meaningful, display-worthy art—and honestly, it exceeded my expectations. The design is stunning. The “We Are 26” FIFA World Cup theme gives it that special, collectible feel, especially knowing the 2026 tournament will be hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. It feels like a piece of history in the making, and that makes completing it even more exciting. The 200-piece count is perfect for a relaxing but engaging session. It’s not overwhelming, but still gives you that satisfying challenge. I loved how immersive it felt—great for unwinding without staring at a screen, and it really keeps your mind focused and engaged. What truly sets this puzzle apart is the quality of the wooden pieces. They’re thick (5mm!) and durable, with a really nice weight to them. They fit together beautifully and feel sturdy enough that once completed, the puzzle holds its shape—which is ideal if you plan to display it. And yes… this is absolutely frame-worthy. The finished 11.8 x 11.8 inch size is perfect for wall décor, and the design looks so clean and polished once complete. I love turning my puzzles into art, and this one looks amazing in a home office or living space—especially for anyone who loves soccer. Why I love it: * Official FIFA World Cup 2026 design with real collectible value * Perfect balance of challenge and relaxation * Thick, high-quality wooden pieces that feel durable and premium * Beautiful finished look—ideal for framing or gifting * Great for puzzle lovers and soccer fans alike Perfect for gifting: I’ve already decided this will be one of my go-to gifts for friends and family who love soccer. It’s thoughtful, unique, and something they can enjoy and keep. Final thoughts: If you love puzzles that you can complete, admire, and proudly display, this one is a standout. And if you’re also a World Cup fan? It’s truly the best of both worlds. ⚽✨
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Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2026
B
BDH
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
Premium Quality, Beautiful Puzzle
Color: Usa Ball-200, Size: 200Pcs, Color: Usa Ball-200, Size: 200Pcs
I will preface this by saying that I am not usually a big fan of puzzles. Puzzles I’ve done in the past are too flimsy and there’s been too much guesswork about whether pieces actually go together. But As a huge fan of the World Cup, this puzzle was a must-have. It far exceeded my expectations! The craftsmanship is outstanding. Each of the pieces is made from thick, high-quality wood (the 5mm thickness really makes a difference), giving it a premium feel that you don’t get with standard cardboard puzzles. There’s a satisfying feel when 2 pieces go together. It actually felt like an accomplishment to finish the whole thing. The fact that it comes with a backing that allows you to permanently fix it in place and display it is another added touch that I loved. It’s just under 12 inches in diameter once complete, which looks great on the wall if you decide to hang yours once finished. I think it’s a great value when compared to standard cardboard puzzles. You can tell that there is actually a lot of thought placed into creating this puzzle. What really sets this puzzle apart are the unique piece shapes. There are about 10 pieces that are made in themed shapes, like the Statue of Liberty, soccer players, a cleat, etc. Somehow, despite these pieces being there, the puzzle was still a challenge which took me about 2 1/2 hours to finish. This would make an amazing gift for any soccer fan or puzzle enthusiast, especially with the excitement building around the 2026 tournament.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2026
I
Ian B.
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 4
Officially Licensed, Officially Priced!
Color: Trophy 3, Size: 200Pcs, Color: Trophy 3, Size: 200Pcs
Let me first state that this is a nice package. It's officially licensed, includes everything you need to convert it to make it a permanent decoration (or at least an every four years decoration), and is of very high quality. The pieces are really cool, I love the variety and the recognizable items. I really only have two complaints: 1. The price. It says FIFA, so you pay for it. This is a high price for a wooden puzzle of this size, as they are usually at least $10 less, plus it's always a bummer giving FIFA any more money. 2. There is a VERY strong chemical aroma, which will hopefully dissipate. The puzzle is shipped in plastic, so hopefully a little more time out of the plastic will improve that aspect. Overall it's a fun puzzle. I found the black around the trophy to be a bit challenging, but the crazy shapes of the pieces make it easier than it would be with standard puzzle pieces. Plus the unique recognizable pieces help! I'll give it a solid 4/5 despite my disdain for FIFA and the premium price - that is after-all justifiable to some degree given that we're a couple of months away from the World Cup. The one star deduction is purely down to the chemical aroma.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2026
C
CarmenSandieEggho
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Very well made but strong wood smell
Color: Trophy 3, Size: 200Pcs, Color: Trophy 3, Size: 200Pcs
This is a really well made puzzle. These pieces are nice and thick, the laser cutting is extremely precise, and the picture is stuck on very well to each one without peeling. There is an extremely strong burned wood smell when you open the box, but it's not a bad smell to me, more like a fireplace wood burning smell. Anyone that is very affected by strong smells would probably not like this puzzle though. I also don't know how long it will take for the smell to go away, if ever, but I've had this puzzle for 2 weeks now and the box still smells strongly like wood that has been set on fire. We haven't put the puzzle together yet, life is just been rather busy, but the couple pieces I found that did fit together went very smoothly. I like how unique the shapes are, and that there are the World Cup icons as well. This should be a lot of fun! It did come with a clear sticker to keep it together for hanging, but because of how that sheet was folded in the box, it'll have to be attached on the back or else there will be visible seams.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2026
C
Chad
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
Official FIFA Product
Color: Trophy 3, Size: 200Pcs, Color: Trophy 3, Size: 200Pcs
This is not my 1st Woodlux puzzle. They are well made, unique puzzles with laser cut pieces that are very precise. The FIFA 2026 World Cup Trophy puzzle is no different. This puzzle has large swaths of solid black which would seem difficult, but the uniqueness of the pieces gives you more than one way to figure out where the pieces go. Colors on the puzzle pieces are vibrant. There is a slight fire smell to the pieces, likely from the laser cutting. I found the smell to be noticeable, but not overpowering. Could be a problem for sensitive noses. 15 of the 200 pieces are soccer/FIFA shapes. This puzzle comes with a cotton drawstring bag to hold the pieces, as well as a cheat sheet, and sticky clear sheet to lay over the completed puzzle to display it as art. The assembled size of the puzzle is 9.2" x 13". This is an officially licensed FIFA product.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2026

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